Every Game Counts

Mark Grieb, a graduate of San Jose’s Oak Grove High, has led the Sabercats to eight winning seasons.

SaberCats Back On the Prowl
NFL lockout stories have caused the return of the Bay Area’s most successful professional football team—over the past decade—to fly a bit under the radar. Following a two-year hiatus, the San Jose SaberCats are back on the mini-gridiron in the revamped Arena Football League. The SaberCats were a model franchise up until a work stoppage in 2009, when the league filed for bankruptcy. The problems were so severe they make the current NFL labor dispute between owners and players look like rich siblings fighting over the keys to a red Ferrari while a green one sits in the garage. With a new business model in place, the SaberCats are an outfit better prepared for the long haul. But they haven’t completely changed their stripes. Some familiar faces return in head coach Darren Arbet and quarterback Mark Grieb, who were part of three ArenaBowl championship teams. Winning a 76-48 season opener against the defending AFL champs, the Spokane Shock, San Jose welcomes the Kansas City Command (0-1) to HP Pavilion at 7:30pm Friday.

Earthquakes Ready To Get Shaking
It’s Wondo’s world and we’re all just living in it. Who’s Wondo? Only one Chris Wondolowski, a 28-year-old Danville native and Major League Soccer’s Golden Boot winner last season—the award is given to the league’s top player. A striker with superb touch, Wondo scored 19 goals in 32 appearances last season while leading the Earthquakes to their first playoff appearance since coming back to San Jose in 2008. Facing Real Salt Lake at 7:30pm Saturday at Buck Shaw Stadium, tickets are reasonably priced as the team waits for its new stadium to be completed two years from now. If fans need an additional push to get out to the pitch, the Earthquakes, aware of their namesake, will be donating $1 to the Red Cross in Japan and the Pacific Rim for every fan who attends the match.